Soodhu Kavvum 2 Movie Review: An inglorious sequel that becomes a yawn fest

1.5/5

Soodhu Kavvum 2 Movie Story

Gurunath (Shiva) and his gang are the predecessors to Das (Vijay Sethupathi) and co. from Soodhu Kavvum. In fact, it is Gurunath and his accomplices who chalk out the basic rules of “kednapping”, that the latter follows. With Gurunath back after completing his stint in jail, and Arumai Prakasam (Karunakaran) now the finance minister of the state, the sequel attempts to create the black comedy drama akin to Soodhu Kavvum but falls notches below.

Soodhu Kavvum 2 Movie Review

Also read: Soodhu Kavvum on OTT: Ahead of sequel release, here is where you can revisit the first part 

If there is any quality that can sum up the sequel to Nalan Kumarasamy’s black comedy film, it would be randomness sans originality. Or in a straight sense, Soodhu Kavvum 2 is a rip-off version of a quality product that appears to be the original and loses the shine one scene at a time. Early in the sequel, we are told how it was Gurunath and his gang who were the pioneers of ethical “kednapping”, so much so that, Gurunath even celebrates the birthdays of those abducted, asking for ransom only after calculating the victim’s monthly expenses, and even advice them to take tablets on time. The role also seems to be tailor-made for Shiva. But Soodhu Kavvum 2 goes downhill when it tries to ape the first film that it completely meddles with its story, throws randomness in bulks, and in the process of being an entertainer, becomes a sulking subject.

Arumai Prakasam is now the finance minister of the state, and obviously we ought to understand how corrupt his government and party are when he proudly says how he made the party’s wealth grow in multifold. There is a similar situation of abduction when the politician is now in the hands of the kidnap gang, and we expect a laughter riot. But sadly, none of the jokes land and it feels like a force-fed method to ape the original. To add to this, we are also shown intercuts of the first film, and an imaginary girlfriend is at play in the sequel too. There is pretty much nothing more that the sequel is giving you, in terms of entertainment or originality. It seems the makers want to retain the glory of the first film by merely recreating it rather than adding to the legacy. In fact, the recreation is also a shoddy work that seems to have been done in haste.

What really bothers me is how the story seems to have no high moments, and despite a barrage of characters, no one really stays any longer than a second after the scene or film ends. Soodhu Kavvum 2, sets up a battle between ethical kidnappers and power and money-hungry politicians, which does seem interesting given the exchange of personalities. But the comedy does not work, the situations are not cohesive, and the lazy writing only adds to Soodhu Kavvum being a yawn fest.

Also read: Viduthalai Part 2 to Soodhu Kavvum 2: Most-awaited Tamil theatrical releases in December 2024

Even as the film’s first half spans across in introducing and sometimes, re-introducing characters, and tying knots to the first half, Soodhu Kavvum 2 is a disappointing follow-up to a film that may well be a film not made at all.

Soodhu Kavvum 2 Movie Verdict

Soodhu Kavvum 2 brings nothing new to the cult film the first was. Even as no attempts made are easily visible, and with comedy working seldom in parts, the sequel is a yawn fest that makes you think that sometimes leaving good things untouched is the best one can do.